PCS Left Alliance

Colleagues,

We want to provide a clear update following recent negotiations with the Broad Left Network (BLN) and Independent Left (IL) regarding a potential electoral agreement for the 2026 DWP Group Executive Committee elections.

As members know, Left Unity continues to dominate the DWP Group Executive. During that period, membership density has declined and confidence in the direction of the Group has weakened. That is the political context in which discussions have been taking place.

The Background

In the previous election cycle, a BLN–IL–LA pact secured:

4 GEC seats

2 Group Officer positions

3 of the 4 pact-won seats held by Left Alliance members

Both Group Officer positions held by Left Alliance members

Those results demonstrate that Left Alliance has significant electoral support and credibility across DWP branches.

On that basis, LA entered discussions seeking a balanced, proportional, and workable 3-way agreement that reflected:

Electoral performance

Organisational contribution

Political accountability

The Proposal Received

BLN and IL jointly proposed that LA would receive:

One Vice President position

Group Treasurer

Group Journal Editor

One Ordinary Member slot

They also refused to support Ian Brown as the incumbent Group Assistant Secretary.

After careful consideration, Left Alliance formally rejected this proposal.

Why We Rejected It

In our written response, we made three points absolutely clear:

Lack of Proportionality

The positions offered fall significantly short of what would constitute a balanced and representative agreement. They do not reflect the actual electoral results achieved last time, nor the contribution made by LA members in office.

Structural Issues Ignored

We raised concerns about proportionality, accountab8ility, and the need for an alliance structure that reflects each group’s real support base. None of these concerns were meaningfully addressed in the offer.

This was not about “more positions for LA.”

It was about establishing an agreement based on objective political reality rather than historic hierarchy.

Democratic Debate

BLN and IL requested written assurance regarding public criticism.

We made it clear:

Left Alliance engages constructively and responsibly. However, political disagreement, expressed respectfully, is part of a healthy democratic union culture.

Reframing legitimate debate as something requiring restriction is not consistent with the open, fighting union culture we want to build.

Our Position Now

As communicated formally:

We are unable to accept the current proposal.

It does not provide a basis for agreement.

We remain open to further dialogue.

Any future agreement must start from a genuine 3-way split reflecting democratic reality.

This is not about factional pride.

It is about fairness, transparency, and building an alliance capable of challenging stagnation within DWP.

The Strategic Question

The choice in front of us is clear:

Accept a diminished role that does not reflect our mandate.

Or insist on an agreement rooted in proportionality and democratic equality.

We will continue to engage where there is genuine movement. But we will not accept arrangements that ignore the political reality members created at the ballot box.

The coming weeks require discipline, clarity and collective confidence.

Left Alliance has demonstrated it can win. The question now is whether others are prepared to recognise that reality, or whether we chart our own path forward.

In Solidarity (please elect the below in the DWP GEC elections)

DWP Group Executive Committee:

President: Jill Fearn

VP: Saorsa Tweedale

AS: Ian Brown, Tom Wilson

Treasurer: Emma Scott    

Journal Editor: Paula Filipovic

Ordinary Member:

Lester Arscott

Ian Brown

Jill Fearn

Paula Filipovic

Andy Hill

Craig Jenkinson

Emma Scott

Catherine Toomer

Saorsa Tweedale

Tom Wilson